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About the course
About the course
This online module explores the experience of refugees and other forced migrants displaced by conflict. It examines the causes of contemporary forced migration in order to understand the implications of different causes for the nature of migration flows and the corresponding humanitarian response. It critically evaluates the international and regional normative frameworks for the protection of forced migrants, considering different migrant categories: refugees, internally displaced persons, stateless persons, and victims of human trafficking.
The module considers the practical dilemmas in protecting the rights of forced migrants.
This course is offered for credit or on a non-credit basis and is delivered jointly by Oxford Brookes University's Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
A flexible and user-friendly online learning environment will enable you to learn from your workplace. During the course, you will have support from a team of academic experts, top-ranked practitioners, and field experts. As well as the unique opportunity to interact and learn with peers and expert facilitators across the world.
Your time will be split equally among four main activities:
Staff-led activities, such as webinars, tutorials and discussions
Self-led activities, including readings and independent exercises
Drawing on your past or current professional practice
Preparing your assignments (credit-rated course)
The credit-rated CPD module, equivalent to 20 postgraduate credits, requires learners to complete assessments and can be counted towards the distance-learning PG Cert/ Master's in Humanitarian Action and Peacebuilding. The non-credit-rated short course leads to a certificate of attendance.
Dates
Dates
Delivery dates: April - June 2026
This course is primarily self-paced, with a required one-hour weekly webinar. It's designed to be flexible for those with full-time jobs or for those studying from around the world.
Application deadlines: 9 January 2026 (Credit-rated course), 27 March 2026 (Non-credit-rated course)
Non-credit course: 8 weeks comprising of 6 interactive weeks plus 2 reading weeks
Credit-rated course: 11 weeks comprising of 6 interactive weeks, 2 reading weeks plus 3 assessment weeks
Course cost
Course cost
Credit-rated course is £1,145*
Non-credit-rated course: £600*
Course Content
Course Content
The online course is estimated to be 200 hours per module and includes 6 key sessions:
Causes of forced migration in the 21st century
International and regional protection of refugees
Protection of other forced migrants: internal displacement, environmental migrants, statelessness and trafficking
Spaces of displacement: livelihoods in camps and cities
Responding to refugees: protection, humanitarianism and localisation
Rights of refugees and durable solutions
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
Critically analyse the causes, political and economic impact of forced migration and identify changing patterns of human displacement in the twenty-first century.
Understand the scope and shortcomings of international standards relating to forced migration.
Appraise the effectiveness of interventions in support of refugee livelihoods, in light of an understanding of the economic strategies used by forced migrants.
Make a critical evaluation of the impact of their own organisational interventions for the protection of forced migrants.
Testimonials
Testimonials
'This module had a seismic impact on my career path. I focused my individual research primarily on climate refugees and the impact of climate change on populations in the region of South Africa where my humanitarian organisation is based. The conclusions I drew from this examination resulted in my organisation's formalised commitment to conduct all work in an eco-friendly manner, with a particular focus on utilising climate-smart technology.' Julia Heemstra, AMANZI
Who is this module for?
Who is this module for?
This course is suitable for practitioners already working in the humanitarian, conflict transformation and peacebuilding fields and in related areas such as diplomacy and journalism, who wish to continue their professional development, and practitioners working in other fields interested in exploring opportunities in these areas.
Contact us
Contact us
If you have any enquiries about the course, please email us at hst-cpdadmissions@brookes.ac.uk
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*Cancellation policy
*Cancellation policy
If you cancel on or before the application deadline, you will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations made after this date are not eligible for a refund.
If the course is cancelled by Oxford Brookes University, all registered participants will get a full refund.
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